A VERY FRUITFUL “PSYCHOSIRITUAL WELLBEING IN THE POST-MIDLIFE YEARS” PROGRAMME AT SUMEDHA CENTRE

 The 2^nd “Psychospiritual Wellbeing in the post Midlife years” Programme at Sumedha Centre, Jharmari, concluded on the 5^th June. This four-week residential programme commenced on the 9^th May, 2026

There were 7 participants – 6 men and 1 woman (from Brazil).

The programme was based on the book “Psychospiritual Dynamics at Midlife and Beyond: Pathways to Health and Happiness in the Second Half of Life” authored by Dr Jose Parappully, the Director of Sumedha Centre. 

The programme content included:

·         An Assessment of the current state of one’s psychospiritual journey

• Self-Awareness and Self-Transformation
• Somatic Meditation
• Holistic and Process Spiritualties
• Awakening to Post-Midlife
• Psychospiritual Dynamics During Post-Midlife years.
• Post-Midlife Journeying  Inward and Outward
• Emotional Awareness of Mortality
• Awareness of Time Limitation
• Assessment of Life and Priorities
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• Post-Midlife Transformational Processes
• De-Illusioning
• Mourning Losses
• Atonement
• A Re-Look at  Sexuality, Intimacy and Celibacy
• Enhancing Interiority
• Attaining Integrity/Wholeness
• Spiritualties for the Post-Midlife Years.

Methodology was very experiential, using a four-fold approach of Input, Introspection, Interaction and Intercession. This was supplemented by Expressive Arts and Dance, Bioenergetics, Yoga, Qigong and creative liturgies.

Course requirement included reading assigned material and writing Journals and time spent in introspection and integration and active participation in group work and sharing of responsibilities.

Life at Sumedha included celebrations and visits to tourist spots and famous town nearby and a full-day group picnic to Chandigarh.

The participants found the programme immensely beneficial and life at Sumedha very satisfying. Some feedback observations:

·         “It was truly a journey inward and journey outward. It helped me get in touch with myself and plan for the future. I feel more connected with myself now and more energetic. I got help to improve my relationships. It was a wonderful programme. Well thought-out and well executed. I received more than I expected.” R. 53 years

·         “It was helpful to integrate my psychological, emotional, spiritual and relational life. It was helpful to develop appropriate intimacy, empathy, listening skills and healthy boundaries. It helped me look honestly at my life journey. It assisted me to accept my past without regrets, live in the present with gratitude, and face the future with hope” J. 56 years

·         “Sumedha is a powerhouse for body, mind and spirit. The programme led me into the core of my being. It touched me deeply. It has opened up some of the dormant or stagnant areas of my life. It has helped me to get rid of some resentment, doubt, fear, rather helped how to deal with these. It has helped me to turn “crisis” into “Kairos.” It has helped me to deal with declining health and strength and stress.” G. 62 Years

·         “I was really surprised that the programme offered me what I was genuinely longing for. It led to an overhauling of my rigid values and convictions, particularly my perfectionism which were destructive to my happiness and my relationships.” J. 65 years.

·         “Sumedha caused a thorough churning within me – backward and forward. I was amazed at the selection of topics. Just at appropriate depth each topic was covered. The process was just right. It was engaging. The facilitator was awesome. Kindness, acceptance, availability was the hallmark of the Centre. What I carry with me as a result is real joy.” J. 68 years

·         “The programme has brought me healing and wellbeing. It really helped me to look into myself and make an evaluation of my life and prepare myself to grow old gracefully. It helped me let go of my rigid values and expectations and accept people as they are. The input sessions were deep.” A. 69 years.

·         “It was providential I came to Sumedha. The programme helped me to reflect on the emotional awareness of mortality and the brevity of time available. It opened my eyes to a broader and deeper understanding of realities and paradoxes of life and their implications for future life. It helped me understand the nuances of various psychological dynamics of and the scope for gaining gracefully.” J. 73 years.

55TH SUMEDHA SADHANA CONCLUDES

 The 55^th Sumedha Sadhana, the 12-week Psychospiritual Wellbeing Journey programme at the Sumedha Centre, Jharmari, Punjab, concluded on the 1st of May, 2026. It had commenced on February 07, 2026.

There were 14 participant – 9 women, including 2 from Thailand and 5 men.

Sumedha Sadhana is a programme of inner journeying, using insights and practices from psychology, spiritual traditions and social sciences, in search of greater self-awareness, healing and wellbeing.. The following were the major modules of this programme.

The programme has several Modules: Self-Awareness and Self-Transformation; Holistic & Process Spiritualties; Religious & Community Life; Prayer & Meditation; Yoga & Cosmic Spirituality; Personality and Healthy Emotional Life; Unconscious Dynamics, and the Spiritual Journey; Psychological & spiritual Dynamics at Midlife and Beyond; Sexuality, Intimacy and Celibate Chastity ; Trauma, Healing & Reconciliation; Breath, Spirit & Wellbeing; Emotional Hygiene; Intensive Group therapy and Spiritual Retreat.

Methodology was very experiential using a four-fold approach of Input, Introspection, Interaction an Interaction.

These processes were enhanced by Bioenergetics, Intensive Journal, Expressive Arts, Breathwork, Yoga, Qigong, Multi-media, Prayer & Meditation practices, Dance, and Sacred Scripture.

There were a celebrations and picnics and weekly recreations to relax the mind and body.

One special event during this programme was the celebration of the Feast of St. Joseph, the Patron of Sumedha Centre on 19^th March. This day is also the Foundation day of Sumedha Centre. This year, the 2td. Rt. Rev. Sahaya Thatheus was the Chief Guest at the occasion.  He presided at the Solemn Eucharistic Celebration.

Another special even was the celebration of the Easter Triduum - Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and the Easter Vigil. These were marked by specially created rituals and creative liturgies.

Still another special event ws the visit of the Salesian Provincial of the Province of New Delhi, Rev. Fr. Davis Maniparamben, on April 2nd, which happened to be also the Birthday of Rev. Br. Cyriac Kurias, a staff member at Sumedha Centre.

All the participants found the programme immensely useful. Seven participants gave a 10 on scale of 1-10 for Usefulness (1 meaning Very Little Useful and 10 Immensely Useful); three gave a 9 and three 8. One did not provide a numerical indicator.

Some typical feedback comments are given below.

“My journey at Sumedha was a beautiful, amazing and remarkable one.”

“Sumedha has left an indelible mark on my life journey.”

“Sumedha is the best place for a psychospiritual renewal.”

“I came confused and broken-hearted. One by one the Modules brought clarity and healing. I go back with joy and enthusiasm.”

“I came with no clarity about who I was and what was happening to me. I was able to recognise my brokenness and woundedness and experience healing.”

“The programme helped me grow out of every problem I came with.”

“The programme helped me grow in self-awareness, emotional healing, inner peace and a deeper relationship with God. It also helped me understand myself and others.”

“During my Sumedha Journey I experienced significant inner growth, healing, and clarity of my behaviour patterns, and learned to balance prayer, mission and rest. I feel more integrated and peaceful.”

“What I wanted, I have received. I came sick. I go back healthy.”

“I go back with real joy in my heart.”

“The whole programme was holistic, meaningful and very enriching. All the Modules were relevant and well-organized.”

 “The programme was well-structured and holistic, integrating psychological and spiritual dimensions beautifully.”

“I received more than I expected.’

 “The whole atmosphere was conducive for the inner

 journey.”

“I felt safe, warm, welcomed.”

“The food was nourishing, and the environment very peaceful.”

“The service was excellent. I was very impressed.”

The next Sumedha Sadhana is from June 13 to September 04, 2026. For information and registration contact: sumedhacentre@gmail.com

Workshop on Post-Midlife Wellbeing

 Dr Jose Parappully, Director of the Sumedha Centre, Jharmari, facilitated a three-day workshop on “Post-Midlife Wellbeing” for a group senior Jesuits of the Karnataka Province from 9 to 11 January 2026, at Prerana- Ignatian Spirituality Centre, Bangalore.

There were 21 participants, aged between 50 and 60years.

The content of the Workshop was based on Parappully book, “Psychospiritual Dynamics at Midlife and Beyond.”

All the participants said in their closing feedback that they found the Workshop very useful for them at this stage of their life. They were able to understand the dynamics occurring in them at this period and plan for the future, making necessary adjustments to age gracefully, while continuing to contribute to the wellbeing of society. They found the topics and the methodology used very apt and helpful.

Some comments from the participants are given below.

“This workshop was very useful. Very appropriate at this stage of my life. Made me reflect on my own life. Some aspects of my life need attention. Your presentation was very good and meaningful. It was like a retreat. Spiritually rich.”

“I feel very good. It was an excellent workshop to do an honest introspection and accept certain realities of my life non-judgmentally. I could relate several topics to my own life experience.”

 “I feel very happy about topics dealt these three days. Benefit is I’m aware of many things which will help me specially now to prepare myself to enter into evening of life. It’s a road map for my future years.

 “The workshop helped me to slow down and take a note of my present state of spiritual well-being. It showed me areas that I need to focus on, and the attitudes, perspectives that I need to nurse.”

“The workshop was informative, experiential helpful to look into myself. It showed me how to grow gracefully, what way I need to pay attention to my inner self, behaviour and attitudes, the need to move from activism to becoming a compassionate person.”

“I am happy that I attended this workshop. There was enough time to reflect, pause, and interiorise the input. Deep-down I felt very positive and good. It was extremely beneficial for my growth at this stage of my life.”

“I am extremely happy that I attended this workshop. It has helped me to accept certain aspects of my life like loneliness, inability to concentrate as before, slowing down. Being aware of these aspects I would be able to do better in life.”

“I feel happy and enhanced – psychologically, spiritually, and socially, feel energised/strengthened. All religious/priests should go through this workshop for a better tomorrow in their lives.”

 “It was a good three days spent reflecting on my past and looking into my likely future. Relaxing and insightful. Felt rejuvenated and assured of my self as I move into the slower side of life. It opened up a lot of dimensions and layers of my life for me, and possibilities to look into, contemplate.”

“It was excellent. It brought lots of awareness and insights into my life. I befitted a lot to understand myself, to develop my own post-midlife spirituality, and to prepare myself for the sunset years of my life.

“Dr Parappully is excellent. He is well-read, resourceful. His content is well-researched. His insights are great.”

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Dr. Parappully’s next workshop is for the Salesians of the Hyderabad Province at their Provincial House from February 3-5, 2026